the_korben

Sounds awesome, thanks. This instantly turned a potentially productive evening into a pure nostalgia fest.  
 
One more thing though: Holy crap!!!! I can't believe that this was already 5 YEARS ago. 5 YEARS! Time flies, man.... and I'm getting old :(

" @Mikewrestler5 said:

" I agree. But this is definitely going to get locked.   If you have an opinion that's against video games, it is best to keep it to yourself, because the mods are hell-bent on closing any threads that degrade video games in any way possible. "

Oh whoops, I thought this was giantbooks.com.  :P  But seriously, I like video games a hell of a lot too.  Shit ain't mutually exclusive. "

Wether we should or should not, Jurassic Park should not really influence your opinion too much on this. I just re-read the first book, and while it's a great page turner, Michael Crichton really had a lot of problems with his concept of modern science. Something went wrong during his post-doctoral fellowship and he eventually even began to believe in mumbo jumbo like psychics and that all diseases are caused by our minds. Kind of bad if you're a Harvard medical school graduate ... Definitely try to get an informed opinion about the benefits and dangers of genetic research from somebody other than Michael Crichton. He was a good writer though.

Damn dude your speaking some high end talk right there :)       Oh yeh games are great for escapism.  But find that with almost everything in this world is set up so you can lose yourself in it just like movies, Art, nature, music etc. Ive always known that its good to keep open mind to any media or expression of ideas.   Some games are so sophisicated these days (been gaming since 1994) its crazy how many emotions can be evoked.  My main problem with this Gen is that Devs have devised so many ways to keep you invested and replaying games.  I have completionist tendancies which I've had to majorly surpess to be able to stop playing a old game and play new title.  In response to your last sentance I do think that games are a good way to 'relax' but only in the physical side.  Often if ive spent a day off playing a game I will feel just as exhausted as If Ive spent a whole day at work from the mind being constantly active thinking thats its underattack or in danger playing the usual FPS and action games where your constantly caught in some sort of struggle.    But yeh just for the record I do work full time and dont spend every free minute I have gaming as I also have many other past times.  I suppose growing up in the 90s that sorta 'video games are just for kids' mentality is still in my sub conscious making me feel guilty for still playing games at the age of 27.  But the industry has changed so much since when I first played duck hunt on the NES :) "  

It's a very difficult topic. There are several different philosophies that could be applied. I mean, in principle an economist would tell you that you'd want to spend your time in way that it maximizes your happiness - whatever that actually is. An idealist philosopher might tell you to use your limited time so you become the best person you possibly can. Learn, improve, reflect. Others will tell you that the goal in life is to maximize other people's happiness. Others go by more superficial principles like "make everyday something new" or some self-help slogan like that.
 
Whichever route you go, I'm pretty sure that the only one that is not really desirable in any reference frame is the following: to be a hollow shell of a consumer, constantly latching on to the next product that the entertainment industry serves you to suck away your money in exchange for perpetual escapism. Movies, comic books, video games, x, y, z.  "Just never give me a second to think about anything! Keep me wrapped in that artificial womb of fantasy!". Once you've become that person, and you only live your life to work in a job in order to be able to regularly afford your escapism, I'd say your free time is better spent looking for something that gives your life more of a purpose. But that's just my opinion :). 
  
Please don't get me wrong. If you're on a path that feels right for you, there's no problem in wasting time every now and then (or even regularly). You need to recharge your batteries and relax in order to give it your all in those areas in your life that really count. That's what hobbies are good for, right? Just don't make it the only thing you do ... unless you do it for a living. 

I love their music - don't really like much of their conspiracy bullshit though. ;)

Is "code" some code for code? 

I was certainly my GOTY. Maybe not the "objectively" best game I played this year, and probably not anything with a chance to win many websites' GOTY awards. But it was simply MY game of the year. And that's all that counts for me. Thanks again, SWERY. And cheers to anybody here who feels the same way :)